Why Sporting Lisbon is Sturm Graz’s best opponent so far

That Sturm two goals within a minute in a 5-2 win against GAK can be considered youthful recklessness. That this one is against Lisbon sports Tuesday in the Champions League (21 pm, Live Sky) has to be canceled obviously. “We can’t afford that at all. But there are also other issues against Spórs, after all the club is one of the best teams in Europe,” said coach Christian Ilzer. “Anyone has to have great quality will become a champion in Portugal and beat the top clubs Porto and Benfica again this season.

Everything won

This season is fun won all eight games in the Primeira Liga and is also the favorite against Graz in Klagenfurt. Only in the previous season in the Europa League did the Portuguese win 2-1 in Graz and they really surpassed it in the home game with a 3-0 victory. “They have become even stronger. But we also played in a streak with ten goals in two games. The team feels good,” says Ilzer.

And Spórs has the same problem as the one the Styrians had recently. While the successful sporting director Andreas Schicker left for Hoffenheim quickly, the Portuguese have to worry about their coach. Reuben Amorim on the wish list of both Manchester clubs. The Citizens want to bring him in after the season as Pep Guardiola’s replacement, United may want to bring him in sooner.

First, criticism

That the now 39-year-old was, of all people, with the city rival from 2008 to 2017 Benfica played, signed at Sporting four years ago, but did not appeal to many fans. In the meantime he has also finally proven his critics with his success, only dropping one point this year – in a 1-1 draw at Eindhoven in the Champions Leaguein which one begins Lille they beat 2-0 at home (the French, in turn, beat Real Madrid last).

The quality of the players is more than just magnificent. When it comes to fan capacity, however, sports are usually overshadowed by city rivals Benfica.

The club that the stars like Luis Figo or Cristiano Ronaldo today counting mainly on the Swedes Viktor Gökereslast year’s storm already caused problems. The Guardian have already placed the 26-year-old goalie on a par with Harry Kane, Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappé. He has already scored eleven times in the Portuguese league. Most of the assists came from the right winger Trincao. The Ivorian is in the middle of defense Ousmane Diomande Worth its weight in gold, but this is missing on Tuesday – good for Sturm. Last year, the young star scored the winning goal in the final stage in Graz. Nevertheless, Spórs shines through the unity of their team.

Sturm’s opportunity lies in your lack of opportunity. But also the opposite Brest and Bruges Graz was not far away from winning points.